Reconnaissance geophysical and geological studies on Bahrah Prospect, Makkah Al-Mukarramah Region, KSA

Abstract EN

The geological and geophysical studies carried out on the northern part of Bahrah prospect led to the recognition of a mineralized metarhyolite tuff zone (around 200 m wide and 700 m long) along the northern extension of the central gossan zone.

This zone is characterized by the presence of exposed lensoid masses frommetachert (siliceous gossan), massive and banded barite, and magnetite.

IP and magnetic surveys along this zone proved the existence of a 40 meters deep anomaly that is open with depth and extends for about 200 m to the north along the strike.

The surface barite mineralization is similar mineralogically and chemically to the blind ore encountered in a drill hole drilled about 250 m to the east of the central gossan zone.

The exposed barite mineralization contains copper, lead and zinc with ratios greater than 1 %, ≈ 41 % Barium, ≈ 21 % MnO and Au up to 13.5g/t.

It seems that there are two mineralized horizons with higher grades to the north.

It is recommended to carry out further exploration to the north along the strike of the blind ore as well as the exposed barite mineralization.